When we worked at the group home, we spent so many hours working each day that I usually did not have time to pack my daughter’s lunch. It was hard to pay the $1.70 each day for her to eat, but it was a chosen convenience for us.
Now that we’ve moved and I’m working from home again, I’m packing her lunch every day. One reason is because I want to monitor what she’s getting and how much she’s eating. The main reason though is the price. School lunch for elementary students is $2.30!!! Of course, rates are higher for older …read more

I’m sitting here at my parent’s house.  They live about 1 1/2 hours from us.  We planned to come for the day and return home tonight so that tomorrow we could start packing for our move (we’re moving next week!). 
I had no intentions of shopping tomorrow.  After all, we live out in the boonies and I’m lucky to find a decent restaurant.  I’d have to drive almost an hour to next largest city to get take advantage of Black Friday sales.  I’d almost considered signing up at Tree Hugging Family for Buy Nothing Day.  And then I did it . …read more

I voted today.  It was the first time my daughter got to go with me to vote.  She loved seeing her new school.  She will go there in just a year and a half.  BOO HOO!  I’m crying already!  So vote in our poll and tell us who you voted for or if you didn’t vote at all.

I was listening to Candy and Potter today and they were talking about weddings.  Listeners were calling in and telling how much they’ve spent to be in someone’s wedding.  I listened for a while because my husband was just in a wedding last week.  The cost involved really hit home for me.
When my husband and I got married, I tried to be very considerate of other people’s expenses and I didn’t want to cause them any financial stress.  One of the ways that I did this was by choosing a dress pattern for the bridesmaids.  I bought the material and pattern for …read more

We have a new poll up.  Please take a moment to vote and comment below. Thanks!
If you’d like, you can view the results of the last poll about reusable grocery bags.

{democracy:34}

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again . . . I hate those little plastic grocery bags.  I can’t stand how they accumulate in my house.  It drives me nuts that I put them in my van so that I’ll take them to the store to recycle, but forget to take them inside and then they stay in my van for a few more weeks.
Recently, I wrote about how Lowe’s Foods is allowing their customers to purchase reusable grocery bags with their green points.  And not only that, they’re giving 50 green points for each reusable bag you bring …read more

The recent article about reusable bags has brought about some good conversation.  It’s time to poll our thrifty readers to see what you do.  Do you have reusable bags that you take to the grocery store?  Are you stuck on the plastic bags and couldn’t live without them?  Let us know.

While writing 10 Ways to Save Money When Eating Out, I addressed the fact that a large portion of your tab could be from beverages.  We polled the Thrifty Mommy readers and I am proud to say that you all are very thrifty.  Here’s the results of the poll:
What do you order to drink when eating out? 
167 total votes were received. 
36 (21.5%) people say that they always order water.
47 (28%) people say tha they order tea or soda.
11 (6.5%) people order alcohol.
73 (44%) people said that they usually order water, but sometimes they like a special treat.  I am also in this group.  …read more

I just completed an article 10 Ways to Entertain Kids While Traveling and thought this would be a good time to ask you what your plans are.  Will you be traveling over the holidays?  Will you stay home?  Let us know in the poll and comments below.  You’ll find the poll in the sidebar above the categories.
If you will be traveling, you might want to check out these tips for saving on gas.

My friend and I were having a discussion the other day and I disagreed with her.  When she takes her kids places she always buys them a souvenir. 
Last year she took the family to Disney on Ice.  The tickets alone cost her more than $100.  Then she bought each child a souvenir and I think she also bought them a drink that came in a special Disney cup or something like that.
When it was all said and done, with tickets, souvenirs, drinks, food, gas, etc., she had probably spent $200 on the outing.  To me, that’s money that could be …read more